Written by Francisco Vera.
The UCF Knights (12-1) upset the #17 Kansas Jayhawks (10-4) with the score of 81-75 to open this season’s Big 12 Conference slate. With the win, the Knights are now on an 11-game win streak.
It is a new year, and it is time for a new chapter in UCF’s Big 12 journey as they opened conference play against #17 Kansas. The Knights headed into this game with an 11-1 record, the best start in the Johnny Dawkins era.
This showdown had a big-game feel from the start, and UCF showed they were not playing around; both would exchange leads on multiple occasions, and by the first media timeout, it was a 10-9 Kansas lead.
Coming off the media timeout, the Jayhawks would show glimmers of momentum, but the Knights would remain in the game as they continued to force Kansas to take uncomfortable shots. By the second media timeout of the half, the score was 21-17 in favor of the Jayhawks.
10 minutes were left of the first half, when the game shifted to a defensive approach, as it showed that defensive efforts would be what could win the game for either team. However, a Riley Kugel three-pointer would be crucial as UCF would begin to run with the lead.
At the under-four media timeout, the Knights had put on a great display of basketball, holding a six-point lead. However, after some quick baskets and a technical foul on UCF’s Chris Johnson, Kansas would get back on track. The Knights would bounce back from their mistakes and would head into halftime leading the Jayhawks 44-41.
Returning from halftime, UCF showed they were in the driver’s seat and slowly continued to build on their lead. By the first media timeout, the Knights had a six-point lead over Kansas and were looking for more. However, the Jayhawks would claw back and tie the game.
With just under 10 minutes remaining, the game got more physical, and both teams began shooting more free throws. UCF took advantage of this and turned it up on offense. A Jordan Burks three-pointer would give the Knights a six-point lead, and Kansas head coach Bill Self would find himself forced to call a timeout.
After almost three minutes of no scoring from both teams, Jordan Burks would extend the UCF lead to seven, and after a Jayhawks turnover, it appeared that the Knights were running away with it. Kansas would quickly respond by lowering the deficit to two with four minutes left. A media timeout would be called.
Returning from the under-four media timeout, the Jayhawks would tie the game, and after an exchange of baskets, the game was tied once again with under a minute remaining. A huge three by Jordan Burks would give the Knights a three-point lead, and Addition Financial Arena was rocking.
Kansas would get fouled while attempting a three-pointer and would make all of their free throws, cutting the deficit to one. With under 10 seconds left, Riley Kugel would hit an and-one to ice the game and give the Knights the win.
Two Devan Cambridge free throws would officially end it, and the Knightmare would storm the court to celebrate this win. The final score from Addition Financial Arena was an 81-75 UCF win as they move to 12-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play.
Kansas’ Darryn Peterson led both teams in scoring with 22. Riley Kugel led the Knights in scoring with 19.
The Knights will look to improve their now 11-game win streak, as they travel to Stillwater, Oklahoma, and take on Oklahoma State on January 6th with an 8:00 p.m. tip-off time.
